Crises fueled by bank runs, starting with the Great Depression, have had something in common: Unexpected changes spur bank failures, followed by general panic and then large-scale economic distress.
Raising rates to fight inflation involves a time lag so current efforts to bring down prices won’t start having an impact until the next election is approaching.
The Fed raised rates by a quarter-point – less aggressive than had been expected before the current banking crisis, but signaling inflation is still its focus.
The latest consumer prices report shows cost of living is still rising far above the Fed’s target. But don’t expect monetary policymakers to aggressively hike rates.
Lenders face a lot of risks, but two of them – interest rate and liquidity – were the main drivers of the sudden and rapid failure of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank. That’s why more trouble may be ahead for the banking sector.
Reserve Bank of Australia governor Philip Lowe is unrepentant about the prospect of further interest-rate rises. In fact, he says there’s a risk the bank is not doing enough.
The Reserve Bank of Australia tips economic growth to slow, inflation to remain high, spending to stagnate, unemployment to increase and real wages to fall further.